High-tension switch



Jul 13,192 I A,, RAMSEY HIGH TENSION SWITCH"- F iled Feb. 18, 1924 'r spets-fsheet 1 an ffamse July. 13, 192 1,592,503

A. v RAMSEY HIGHTENSION SWITCH Filed Feb. 18, 1924 v 7 Sheets-Shet 4 f Glam G f g z g July 13 1926-. 1

i A. RAMSEY HIGH TENSION SWITCH Filed Feb. 18, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 blade has sliding engagement; f

Patented July 13, 1926.

uNi o-sTaTE'sPATENT err ICE;

ALLAN RAMSEY,

or nvAnsromiLLmoIs, IASSIGNIOR T sonwairzna & CQNRAD, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

HIGH-TENSION' swrrcii; 1

Application filed February is, 19 4. semi No. 693,620.

My invention'relates to switches an'd more.

particularly to high tension switches.

' It is apurpose of my invention to provide a high tension switch that isprovided with 5 movable contact means, said movablecontact means comprising a n1 'inimum number Preferably; only the f movable part-s.

switch blade moves, thus reducin the. number of movable parts and the 'WBIghUfihGTG- J of. Thisis highly important as lna high;

'tension switch with lar e, heavy parts, the number. ofsuch parts -t iat move determine largely the difficulty of operation 1 of the switch, as any increase in the number .thereof increases the weight that has to bermoved materially. By providing a switch v comprlsing'a mechanism in which the-blade only movesthe weight of them ving parts is reduced to a minimum:

Preferably, the movable switchblade is mounted on an insulated support and is moved 'by means of-a revolving insulator,

said insulator "being driven by suitable mechanism from a remote po nt, Preferably, the switch blade-is'driven= by a rack and pinion, the pinion being'driven through the revolving msulator. Sa1d movable contact preferably co-o crates with a fixed contact vor contacts with -which the movable -Itis a' -further purpose of "ji'nven'tion toprovid'e aswitch mechanism of the'above ;,menti0ned character which can be con- I a I structed; in the form Tof either a single 'or .35- double throw switch. The operating mecha- .nism andthe driving .mchanism for the l blade and the mounting of the blade are substantial-ly the same for a single and double throw switch," thus making it possible to use i a standardized construction'. with either form, the only important difierence between the two switchesbeing that inthe case of the "j double throw switch the movable blade is mounted intermediate two stationary con 'tacts, whereas in the case of. the single throw switchua stationary.contaet member is" provided-zonlyat one side of the movable conta'ct means, said stationary contact-or con;

taetsbeing aligned with the movable contact so that the'movable' contact or switch .blade' moves into engagement with the stationary. contact or contacts by a. longitudinally slidin'gmovement. a i

It is still a further purpose of themvention to rovidgisaidfixed or stationary conment of the movable contact means beyond its normal engagingposition with the sta tionary contact-means. The mechanism for operatin'g'the switch comprises gearing that has such a ratio thata comparatively large movement of the switch blade occurs with.

each revolution of the driving shaft of said (5 operating means, thus causing a rapid move,-

ment of the switch blade into and out of circuit closing position. It his-obvious that, due to the rapid'movement of the blade, it would be easy to move the blade too far if no suitable mechanismivele provided to prevent thislmovement, thus causing considerable damage to I the stationarycontact mechanism. p

It has been found that it is most desirable B to provide a positive stop for the movable blade so as toravoid' any damage to the sta tionary contact means. Said stop is prefv erably provided on the driving shaft near the driving mechanism whicln'in the forms 00 shown in the drawings; is a hand wheel driving the shaft through a worm Wheel and worm and comprises a screw thread or worm having a nut mounted thereon, said nut being provided. with stop mechanism 05. co-operating with stationary stop means to limit the movement thereof in both directions. The nut is so mounted as to be held against rotation, thus moving lengthwise of the threaded member as the same is rotated 100. and-upon engagement with the stop means stopping the rotation of said threaded orthat I intend to include as part of my inven 10 ill skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an'elevation, partly broken away,

of my improvedswitch mechanism, showing the arrangement thereof when used-as a single throw switch;

Fig. 2 is a side view in, elevation of said switch mechanism with a portion of the operating mechanism omitted, said view being taken atv right angles to Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch blade used in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive; i

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away, of the movable contact member supporting means shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive; 7

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of said means taken substantially from the line 66 of Fig. '5, showing the switch blade .in 'posi- I tion therein;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation,-of .the

rotatable insulator and the drivingmecha nism for the movable switch blade cooperating therewith;-

Fig. 9 is a view in vertical section and partly in elevation of the driving connection between the vertical and horizontal driving shafts of the switch actuating mechanism; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the driving means for said actuating mechanism when a hand wheel is employed, said view being taken with the cover of the housing for said driving means removed and the driving shaft being shown insection;

Fig. 11 1s a view in side elevation of the stationary contact means;

Fig. 1-2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 13 is a section thereof taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11; i

Fig. 14 is a. view, partly in vertical section and partlyin elevation, of the stop mechanism on the actuating means to limit the movement of the movable switch blade and adjoining portions of the actuating mechanism;

1 Fig; 15 is a section thereof taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 14; V I Fig. 16 is a face view of the stop mecha;

, nism housing Fig. 17- is a' view similar to Fig. 1 of a .double throw high tension switch mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a double throw high tension switch mechanism;

Fig. l Q is a plan View of the switch blade used in the double throw switch mechanism; a d

Fig. 20 is afragmentary face view of the stop mechanism housing for a' double throw witch mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the switch mechanism shown-in Figs. 1"to 16 inclusive is mounted on any suitable support comprising a vertical member 10 and horizontally extending frame members 11. Said frame members 11 may be made in any desired -manner, preferably being built up of structural members.

Mounted on the vertically extending sup,- porting member 10 is a suitable bracket member 12 provided with a boxlike housing 13 into which extends the stub shaft 14 which is connected with the-vertically extending shaft 15 by means of any suitable coupling member 16. In the housing 13.

'mounted on the shaft 14, is a beveled gear 17 vided with a housing 22 having the bearings 23 and 24 for the horizontally extending shaft 25, said shaft 25 being connected with the shaft 19 by means of the shaft ,or tube 26 through the couplings 27 and 28. In the form shown in Fig. 1 three parallel frame members 11 are provided and three brackets 21 are shown, each of the brackets having a shaft portion 25 projecting therefrom. The

shaft 25 also extends outwardly from the housing 22 beyond the bearing 24 and each such shaft portion 25 is connected with the shaft 25 projecting from the adjoining housing 22 by means of a suitable piece of shafting or tubing 29 by means of couplings 30 and 31 similar to the couplings 27 and 28.

. Mounted on the shaft 25 in each of said housings 22 is a beveled gear 32 which meshes with a beveled gear 33 provided on the vertically extending shaft 34 extending through a bearing 35 in the top of the housing 22. The details of this structure are shown in 8. The upper end.of the shaft 34 has mounted thereona flanged coupling member 36 so as to rotate with said shaft 34. Bolted to said coupling member 36 by means of the bo ts 37 is a flanged member 38which has a stem portion 39 that is rigidly mounted in the. insulator 40 so that said insulator 40 will rotate with the shaft 34 and the member-38.

Each of the members 11 is also providedwith a bracket 41 to which is bolted a flanged base member 42 provided on the insulator 43. Said insulator 43 has bolted thereto at the top thereof a bracket 44, said bracket 44 being shown unore in detail in Fig. 8.

lUJ

The bracket 44 is provided with a housing 45'wl1ich is provided with'bearing portions 51 that meshes with a beveled gear 52pro- 46 and 47 .for a vertically extending stub shaft 48 whichhas the flanged member 49 keyed thereto, said member 49 being secured to the insulator 40 by means of the bolts 50. Mounted on said shaft 48 is,a beveledgear vided on the'horizontally extending shaft wlnch is journaled inthe bearing por tion 54 provided on the bracket 44i Said shaft 53 is provided with a pinion 55 which meshes with the rack 56, provided on the movable contact member 57 the construction ofthese parts being clear from Figs. and 6, from which it will be evident that the bracket 44- is provided with afianged portion 58 for securing the same to the insulator 43 and with a central housingcom rising the longitudinally extending mem ers.

- 59, which housing is provided with a cover also provided with each other.

' is guided in its alignment.

60. The bracket member 44 is made in two thereof, said shoes being provided with end portions'66 curved in a direction away from the movable contact member 57, guiding the same and providing an electrical connection between the stationary terminal 109 a nd the movable contact member. The member 57 movements by the rollers 160 and 16h The,rollers 161-have central flanges 162 extending between the members 73 and 68 to hold the member 57 in axial Referring to 4, it will be seen that i the movable contact member comprises a central body member 67 upon which the rack 56 is providedand an outer member 68"of material oflhigh conductivity on each side of the memher67, the members 68 being'dtt set as shown at 69 and'being brought into face to 'face relationship beyond the end of the member 67, as indicated at 70, and being further'beveled at the ends thereof as shown at 71; Mounted between the members 68 and the body niemberl67 at the P01 on of said, contactmcmberw 57 that engages with the shoes 65 are the filler members 72. Said members 72 terminate substantially with the end of.- the member 67 shown at the right of Figfiifand said member-s68 extendslightly beyond said" en dJa-nd arebrought together as shown at 73. It will be noted that the Flexible conductors 150 are secured to the shoes\65 by means of the bolts 151 and to the bottom 152jofthe casing by the bolts 153.u-The shoes 65 enga e with members 72 and 68 are wider than the member-67 thus holding the rack and pinion in alignment.

It w il'l be evident from the above that when the shaft'l5 is rotated the shaft portions 25' will be rotated through the gearing inthe housing 13 and all the insulators will be rotated through'the gearing'in the -.-housings 22; As said insulators 40 rotate the shaits' 53 rotated through the gearing 1n the h'ousing and the pinion engaging with the rack 56 will cause saidrack and the movable contact'member 57, upon which the same is mounted, to be moved lengthwise with the shoes always in engagement with the outer faces thereof. ,Each of said members 57, in the-form shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, co-operates with a stationary contact member to complete a circut by ion itudinal'or axial movement of said movab e contact member. It will be evident that, due to the arrangc ment of the stationary insulator 43 fo'r sup porting the bracket 44 and the upper hearing for the insulator 40, a very sturdy con struction is provided and all movable parts, except the switch blade itself, are rotating" parts'that are journaled in'bearings "as is common ractice in machinery; thus providing a evice in which all of the movable 1 parts, are easily operable and are under no unnecessary strain as is often the case with long,;swinging arms or long, heavy, lengthwise movable members.

Each of the members with a flanged base member 74 upon which the insulator 75 is mounted. The insulator 75'has mounted on the upper end thereof a-stationary contact .76. Said stationary contact is shown more in detailin Figs. ll 'to 13'1nclus1ve and comprises a housing madeup of the members 773111(l,78 ,'$31 d members. being provided with rearwardly yextending' ears 79 and :80 togetheix forniing a term nalfor aconductor. suitable openings 81 being provided tor fastening devices tor securing the conductor thereto; The mem-I ber 78isprovided with flanges 82 which are provided with elongated slots 83 which are slightly 'arcuate, as will be seen, and are curved-one common centerJ Said slots 83 are provided for thes'ecuring members for clamping the contact member 76 on thejnsulator 75, thus permitting of adjustment of the housingso as to align the same properly with the movable switch blade 57. tact member 6 is, provided witlrside wall portions comprising portions: 84 converging toward. the open end of said housing, wall portions 85 converging toward the rear of said-housii'igand wall portions 86 converging-slightly toward the rear of said housing, Rearwardly of said portions 86 is the vertically extending portion "87 of the housing which is made 1n the formof. a block to 11 'is provided also The con-.

tionship thereto by means of the bolts 90.

The flexible member'88 has a portion 92'extending around the rear side of'the block 87 and forwardly extending portions 93 upon which the contact shoes 91 are mounted. The contact shoes 94 extend in substantially parallel relationship and are provided with diverging outer ends 95, said member 88 lying adjacent thereto and being secured to the portions 95 by means of the screws 97.- 89 Thus, the member 88 acts to conduct the current from the shoes to the housing of the contact 76. Clamped between the members 87 and 89 are also the spring members 98, 99' and 100, said members being of graduatinglength, the member 98 being the long est and the other members being gradually shorter so as to provide a spring mechanism of gradually increasing flexibility toward the forward end, of the housing. The con,- tact shoes 94 are provided 'with securing members 101 for securing the flexible member 88 thereto, the springs 98 being also receivedxover said securin members and being held ther eon by means of the cotter pins 102 butlnavirig a slightmiovenient Qnsaid securing members. The members94 are further provided with studs 103 which pass through the members 88 and 98 and serve as guide members therefor .to hold the same in alignment.

As will be clear from Figs. 2 and 8, the switch blade 57 enters the housing made up of the members 77 and 78. Said movable contactmember 57 enters between the shoes 94 having the outwardly deflected ends 95,.

and it will be evident from Fig. 12 that'said shoes are arranged in pairs and that any desired number may be used depending upon the capacitvof the switch, three-pairs being shown in. ig. 12. The open end of the housing of the stationary contact member 76-.is provided with outwardly flared wall portions 105 which gradually curve from the edge portions thereof toward the in-.

terior of the housing so as 'to act as uide means .for the movable contact member to direct the same into engagement with the contact shoes of the stationary contact member. The stationary contact member is further provided with a pair of guide members 106 on opposite sides thereof which are curved as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 so as.to form converging guides for directing the movable contact member into proper rela tionship with the shoes of the stationary contact.

It will be seen that due to the mounting of the contact shoes the same will lie sub stantially in parallelism and will be resili ently urged toward each other so that the movable contact will slidingly engage with" the said contact shoes so as to form a good electrical connection therewith, and further,

that the shoes mounted on the stationary 'contact member will always be in proper alignment toco-operate with the movable contact member or switch blade, this being due to the flexible mounting thereof. The

"members 77 and'78 are secured together in any suitable manner as by means .of the bolts 107 and 108, bolt .107 passingthrough the clamping block 87 against which the spring members are held by means ofthe members rom the foregoing it will be seen that when the shaft 15 is rotated and the insulator 40 is rotated thereby in one direction,

themovable switch blade 57 will move into engagement with the contact shoes 94 on the movable contact 7 6 and complete the circuit from the'terminal onthe member 76 to a suitableterminal on the bracket 44, said terminal being shown in Fig. 5 as being a lug 109 provided with openings 110 for receiving suitable securing means for clamping a conductor thereto. 1

It will be further noted that the contact elements provided in the stationary Contact 76 are so housed as to be entirely protected froi'n'the weather, thus preventing nioistui'e from interfering with the proper operation of said contacts or preventing any other means from interfering with the proper operation thereof. It will also be noted that the shoes provided for engagement by the movable contact member on the bracket 44: are housed by the cover 60, said cover being provided with downturned lips 111 on the ends thereof to more completely enclose the ends -of the housing through which the anovable switch member 57 projects,

,wheel 112 which is mounted on a shaft 113 which projects from the housing 114 which is mounted on a'suitable bracket 115 on the support 10. The shaft 113 is provided with a worm 116 which meshes with a worm wheel 117 which is keyed on the shaft 118 'projecting out of the top of, the housingll t.

.The shaft 118 is coupled to a shaft 119 projecting from the housing 120 by means of a coupling 121. The housing 120 contains a suitable stop mechanism for limiting the movement of the -shaft-118 and "the shaft 15 in either direction. The sliaft ,119 extends through the housing 120 and is connected with the shaft 15 .by means of a flexible coupling 122. The housing 120 is mounted onthe support 10 in any suitable manner,.as by means of the bolts 123.

It will be noted, upon reference to Figs. 14. 15 and 16, that the shaft 119 is provided with a thread 124 thereon upon'which '1 is mounted an interiorly threaded; nut 125 in the housing 120 so that the same will collars 126 and 127 co-operate with the nut and that. said nut 125 is square and fitswith not rotateon' the shaft 124 but will-be: held against rotation due to the same being confined by the walls of the-housing -1 20.' Accordlngly, the nut 125 will .move up as the shaft 119 is rotated in one direction "and down as itis moved in the other direction.

the shaft being held from axial movement relative to the housing by meansof. the collars'126and; 127 providedjtherein. Said switch blade57 from being movedtoo'far either into open 'circuitfpo'si-tion or closed circuit position iri co-opera'tive relationship "with thestationary contact 76. It is necesv sary that a positive stop absolutely limiting the rotation offthe shaft 15 at a predeter-. mined point be provided, as theswitch' blade 57 moves a considerable distance everytime the shaft 15 is rotated: Thus if apositive stop were not provided the switch blade might enter too far into the stationary con tact member 76 and damage the same. ,2

It will be noted that the endsof the nut 125 are not plane but a'reinclined, there being two inclined portions 128 provided on one end of the nut and'two incline'd faces '129 provided on the other end-of the nut.

/ The'inclined faces 128, terminate in shoulders ..13() and the inclined faces 129 terminate in with inclined faces 132 defining shoulders [138 with which the shoulders13O engage when the nut 125 is moved upwardly asfar as it cango, thus positively stopping'the movement of the nut. 1 25 and consequently positivelystopping the rotation of the slid-ft 119 and the shaft15. Inthe arrangement shown in the drawings, when the member 125 isin engagementwith the step 126 and I the shoulders 133 and 130 are in engage- "ment the limit of the opening movement of the s'witch'is reached. a a

The'stop member. 127 is provided with in-- clined faces 134 defining shoulders 135 with which the shoulders 131 on the nut' 125 engage when the'nut 125 is moved tothe limit of its movement downwardly, thus limiting rotation of the shaft 1.19 and shaft 15in the opposite; direction or limiting the movement of the movable contact. 57 into the stationary contact 76.

The housing isprovided with an opening 136 having a window 137 provided therein so that the interior of the housing can .be seen therethrough. The nut 125 is preferably provided with suit-ablemarkings,

a such as the stripes 138 and 139 thereon, and

the gas 137 is provided with a stripe 14.0

fIn the form shown in Figs.

thereon.- The.. stripes 138, .139 and 140'. are

rection. When the stripe 138 is substantially aligned with the stripe 140 the nut will be in its downward limiting position and when the stripe 139 is in substantial alignment with the stripe 140 the nut will be in its upward limiting position."

In Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive, a double throw' switch is shown which is very similar in construction to the single throw switch shown in Figsl to 16' inclusive; 17 to 20 inelusive, the vertically extending shaft 15( may be driven by any suitable means such as by a power operated device or by means of the hand wheel 112" whichdrives theshaft 15 through the gearing provided on the-housing. 11$, which is the samein con-- struction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inelusive, provided in the housing 114,-through the stop mechanism provided in the housing 120, said shaft 15- driving the horizontally extending shaft 19" through the gearing provided in the box 13 in asimilar manner to which the shaft 19is driven'frorn the' v shaft 15. Said shaft 19 is'connected .with theshaft portions 25' through the shaft portions 26 and 29, which are connected While it is evident that either. the double;

7 7 or single throw switch may be made so that shoulders 181. The nut 126 is also, provided ar -tothat' provided in the housing 22, for driving the rotatable insulators 40, and the brackets 41 have secured thereto the stationary insulators 43 from which the bracket members 44' depend, saidbracket' members 44 corresponding to the brackets 14in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, and being provided with suitable housings 45" within which suitable driving mechanism is provided foroperating the movable contact member 57' through a;

rack and pinion, in a similar manner to that in-which the member "57 is driven from the rotatable insulator 40.

together by means of suitable couplings in the same manner as the shafts 26 and 29'. connect the shaft portions 25in Fig. 1.

too

I rovided with suitable gearing therein, s1miv Contact is made between the stationary parts of the housing 44 and the movable contact 57 by means of suitable shoes correspondingto the shoes 65 shown in Fig. 5

and from said shoes the circuit leads to the terminal .109 corresponding to the terminal.

109 provided in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive. However, in the form shown in Figs. 17. to 20, zontally extending frame member-11? extends substantially equal distanceson both sides-of the insulator 43"and each of said members 11 h as suitable insulators mounted on the ends thereof for supporting stationary contact members. One of said insulators is indicated by the numeral 75 and the other by the numeral'75, said insulators supporting stationary contact members 76 and 76" which are provided with suitable terminals 141 and 142 for securing conductors thereto.

The movable contact member 57 is adapted to enter the stationary contacts76f and 76 .in substantially the same manner-as relatively high conductivity-and has the fill er members 72 provided at longitudinally spaced points thereon to provide the thick' ened portions 143 and 144- respectively, which engage with the contact shoes in the housing 44 when the switch blade enters the contacts 76 and 76 respectively. The ends of the members 68 are inwardly off-set into abutting relation at 69 to provide the portions 70 which lie face to face andwhich are provided with the beveled ends 71. Thus, it will be seen, adouble ended blade 57 isprovide'd which is adapted to co-operate either with the stationary contact 76' or the stationary contact 76". I

Referringnow to Fig. 20, it will be seen that the housing 120, which is substantially the same as the housing 120 and which contains stop mechanism which is identical with that contained, in the housing 120, is provided with 'a window 137 which has astripe.

140 thereon that serves as an indicating or signal means. The stripe 140 is adapted to co-operate. .with a stripe or signal strip 145 provided on the nut 125 to indicate the position of the nut relative to the.stop mem bers. In the form shown in Figs. 17 to 20, when the stripe 145 is aligned with the stripe 140' the nut. 125 is in substantially the same position shown for the nut 125 in Fig. '14 or the stops are entirely out of engagement and the switch member 57 is in a central or open circuit position with the ends thereof out of contact with the stationary contact members and at a substantial distance therefrom so as to provide an open circuit between the terminal 109' and both terminals 141 and 142. It will beevident that the stop members provided in the housing 120 will prevent excessive movement of the movable contact 57 into the stationary contact member 76 when the nut 125 reaches the limit of its movement in one direction and. into the contact 76 when the nut reaches the limit of its movement in the opposite direction/ Having. thus 1 described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch of the character described, asupporting framework, a stationary contact member insulatingly inounted thereon, a pair of insulators mounted on said framework, a bracket mounted on one of said pair of insulators provided with a housing, contact means in said housing, the other of said insulators being mounted for rotation on 'said brac'ket, a movable contact element having sliding engagement with the contact means in said housing, and. a driving connection between said contact element and said rotatable insulator whereby said element is.moved toward or away from said stationary contact when said insulator is rotated, said housing being open at opposite ends thereof, whereby said contact element is projected from one end of said housing ivhen said. insulator is rotated in one direction and from the other end of said housing when rotatedin the other direction.

2. In a switch 6f the character described, a support, a housing on said support, an axially movable contact element mounted on said support in said housing, a pair of stationary contact members .on opposite sides thereof 51nd means for projecting said con-- tact element in either direction from said housing to close the circuit through either of said pair of contact members.

3. In a switch of the character described, a movable contact element and a stationary contact member adapted to receive said element, said stationary contact comprising a pair of contactshoes engaging said element, a flexible conducting member upon which said shoes are mounted and graduated elongated resilient means supporting said shoes at the free end thereof and urging the same toward saidelement, said shoes being adjustable relative to said resilient means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty-eighth day of Janu ary A. D., 1924.

' ALLAN Ramse 

